The digital transformation project is not limited to online platforms and services. It also affects an institution which remains, for many Tunisians, the first gateway to the State: the Tunisian Post Office.
During the presentation of the 2026 budget of the Ministry of Communication Technologies before the two chambers combined, Minister Sofiane Hemissi insisted on one point: postal service modernization has become a national emergency.
According to the minister, more than 100 requests to open new post offices have been submitted in the regions. A strong pressure to which the Post Office cannot respond: each opening requires premises, equipment, but above all… staff.
However, the institution is still suffering from the closure of recruitment since 2016, which has created a deficit of agents. To make up for the delay, the ministry launched a competition for 260 new agents, the results of which will be announced in the first quarter of 2026. Another recruitment session is expected the same year, coupled with a program for assigning agents from other administrations.
Acceleration on vending machines
Another sensitive aspect: ATMs, often insufficient or even absent in several rural areas.
The minister announced that a call for tenders has been launched and that all the planned distributors will be installed “in the next two months”. A second order is already in preparation to further strengthen the network.
The regulatory framework for the sector is also evolving. The draft new status of the DAP (National Post Office) was sent to the board of directors, which made several proposals. The ministry is currently studying the adjustments to be included before the final adoption of the text.
On the question of postal banking or postal banking, Sofiane Hemissi was clear: offering banking services via the Post Office is crucial to combating financial exclusion, particularly in rural areas.
But the minister recognizes a major obstacle: the current legal framework for financial establishments does not allow the effective operation of a postal bank. The file remains technical and still under study.
If the digitalization of public services advances – unified portal, digital procedures, digital consulate, public projects platform – the minister recalls that face-to-face services must be maintained, because the Post Office remains an essential relay for a large part of the population.
Networks and cybersecurity: the other front
The ministry is also continuing to identify areas not covered by telecom networks, before requiring operators to honor their obligations: “No digitalization without national coverage”insists the minister.
He also ensures that “Tunisian computer systems are secure”, thus responding to recurring criticism circulating on social networks.
Ultimately, the Post Office appears to be an essential pillar of this digital transformation: a local service that must be modernized, re-equipped and reinforced with staff to prevent it from becoming the weak link in the country’s digital transition.
